Lather-Up on Sunscreen: If Memorial Day is going just right, that means that the sun would be shining and you are hosting your party outside. To make sure you and your guests are prepared for the sun’s rays, supply a few bottles of sunscreen. During your trip to the grocery store, stock your basket with kid and adult-friendly sunscreen like California Baby or Coppertone.

Supply a Healthy Cocktail: It isn’t a party without the delicious refreshments – but just because they taste great doesn’t mean they have to be loaded with sugar! Follow this recipe to make a healthy cocktail – In a cocktail shaker, combine green apple vodka, sparkling apple cider,Blackberry HINT, and ice; shake until well combined. Strain into chilled glass. Garnish with an apple wedge; and serve!

Get Geared-Up Against Germs: Memorial Day gives your children time to play and meet with other kids – along with pass around germs! Getting on-the-go children to wash their hands is almost impossible so make sure to gear them up with products that can keep them clean!Halo Sani-Cuffs are a great way to help your children fight off the germs they may catch from a day with their friends – and the stylish germ-fighting wristband will ensure that they are only an arm’s length away from fighting germs!

Stock Snacks for Kids:  Before you can actually party, you have to get there! While traveling, it’s more than common to hear the little voices in your backseat ask for a snack. A great and healthy on-the-go snack, like Kate Farms Komplete Ultimate Shakes, should be the first thing you pack. Instead of unhealthy snacks like chips and soda – these shakes will both quench kids thirst and keep their tummies from rumbling!

By Katie Madigan, Winemaker at St. Francis Winery, Sonoma

It’s a great day when you discover a wine you love. But then what? What’s the best way to serve, store, or bring it to your favorite restaurant? Winemaker Katie Madigan, of St. Francis Winery in Sonoma, CA, wants to help keep things simple. Here are a few of her tips to keep the wine flowing.

BUYING AT A STORE

• ·         Have a plan. Do you have a set menu for dinner? Want to explore something new for a girls’ night in? Lay out guidelines ahead of time to quicken and simplify the wine buying process.
• ·         You deserve good customer service. There is a lot of wine on the shelf. Get someone to help you navigate. Don’t be afraid to ask questions such as, “Is this wine too sweet? Will it pair well with my shrimp dish? Is there another Chardonnay better for the price, etc.”?

ORDERING AT A RESTAURANT

• ·         Ask for a sample. If you’re curious about how a wine tastes and the bottle is already open, this is acceptable to ask any sommelier or bartender.
• ·         Bring your own bottle. You’ll spend a fraction to enjoy your favorite bottle vs. ordering a wine you’re not sure about. Make sure to call the restaurant ahead of time to learn of their corkage policy.

STORING AT HOME

• ·         Out of the sun. If you’re saving a bottle or two for a special occasion, make sure to store them away from heat or sunlight. Someplace dark at a constant temperature is best for wine storage, i.e. a closet. If you store a lot of wine, consider a proper wine fridge. Whatever you do DO NOT store wine on top of your fridge or near your stove. It’s simply too hot.
• ·         Refrigerate after opening. It will help maintain the wine’s freshness for a least a week, whereas left of the counter, only a day or two.

About Katie Madigan, Winemaker at St. Francis Winery

After attending Santa Barbara University for chemistry, Katie Madigan accepted a harvest internship at St. Francis Winery that would confirm her interest in winemaking. In 2003 she took a position as senior lab technician and became involved in the research of wine color and tannins. After certification at UC Davis, she was promoted to assistant winemaker in 2006, associate winemaker in 2010 and Sonoma County winemaker, responsible for producing the Sonoma County line of wines, in 2011. In her free time, Madigan enjoys gardening, cooking delicious recipes, antiquing, and kayaking and hiking in Marin County.

The box was huge and Here is everything I received:

• Bounty Basic Paper Towels
• Cascade ActionPacks
• Charmin Freshmates
• CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara
• CoverGirl Outlast Double Lipshine
• CoverGirl Perfect Point Pencil Eyeliner
• Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty
• Febreze Car Vent Clips
• Gillette Fusion ProGlide Irritation Defense Shave Gel
• Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power
• Gillette Hydrator Body Wash
• Olay Total Effects Body Wash
• Pantene Classic Care Solutions 2-in-1
• Pantene Hairspray Flexible HOld
• Swiffer Dusters 360
• Tide PODS
• Tide To Go
• Venus Olay Razor

Can you believe all the great stuff!! I love all of it and here are a few winners as well. My favorite was the Olay body wash, it is super moisturizing. The Swiffer Duster is always a winner in my house, works great and remember to start high with fans and go low.  The Tide pods are so easy, I throw one in and run.

Being a teacher and a mom to 3, I am all about convenience and eas of use and P & G does that!

Did  you get your March 31 newspaper for the brandSAVER^® coupon booklet for savings on some of P&G’s “Most Loved” products. I do love coupons!!

But I know you want to win a giant box of all this great stuff.

So, How can you win??

Leave a comment below:

• why you want to win?
• Like Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/PGmostloved
• Follow on Twitter: @PGeveryday
• Like The Momccupation on facebook
•  Follow on  twitter  @SheSpeaksUp
• Follow @momccupation

Thanks so much for entering and Thanks to P & G for all their products and for sponsoring the giveaway as well!

Children process these things differently.  They may be asking difficult questions and parents may need suggestions to help discuss what happened and address their concerns.

Fred Rogers from the long-running TV show, Mr. Rogers was quoted as saying, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” That is good advice from the wise Mrs. Rogers, but what if your children have questions and need more?

Below are some helpful tips from Child Psychologist Dr. Phyllis Ohr, for Press4Kids’ News-O-Matic, the first educational, news app for children 7 to 10 years old. Dr. Ohr is also the Director of the Child and Parent Psychological Services Clinic at Hofstra and the Assistant Director of the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program.

Here are some tips from Dr. Ohr for how parents can address news issues with children and what children can do to feel better:

1.       When the event does not personally affect the child, reassure them that everything is okay with the people they love and that nothing has changed for them.

2.    Be sure to stress to children that if they do have questions to ask parents, teachers as well as friends. Other children having the same feelings may be comforting.

3.    Begin by giving the child a brief synopsis of what happened by using age appropriate language. Ask if there is something they want to know more about or if they need something explained further. If so, stick to pointedly answering their question or clarifying. Do not add on or digress.

4.    Do not assume the news will make children feel a certain way. Ask if they know how they feel, but stress that kids feel all different ways when they hear important news and sometimes do not know how they feel or do not feel anything which is okay. However, if children are affected by it, it is their own feeling. Reassure children that no matter what they are feeling, their feelings are okay.

5.    If they are upset but don’t want to talk, suggest a fun activity for distraction or help them use calming skills like playing, drawing a picture or writing a story. These activities help release any upset feelings and make children feel better.

HOW TO SAFELY ADMINISTER NASAL SPRAY TO YOUR CHILD

Advice from an Expert

Picture your child running . . . . to get away from you . . . the nasal spray wielding, well-intentioned Mom!!!!! Nasal congestion is making him or her miserable, and all you want to do is help.  Here’s how to do it right:

“It’s important to remember that even if you manage to get the spray nozzle into your child’s nostrils once, it’s possible you’ll never be able to do it again,” says NYC-allergist, David S. Mazza, MD. “Spraying into your child’s nose can be a frightening experience, especially to a very young child,” he explains. “Sprays meant for adults often have large, adult-size nozzles and they exert considerable pressure to deliver the spray into the nose. While we, as adults, expect this, it can frighten a child.”

Dr. Mazza cautions against “using any spray that is medicated unless directed to do so by a physician, or sharing a nasal spray with anyone else for fear of spreading an infection.” One thing you can use safely is a saline nasal spray, such as Ocean for KIDS^® Saline Nasal Spray. “A spray like this respects the developing anatomy of a child’s nose with a smaller nozzle.  This is especially important for a child with a cold or allergies, as the nasal mucosa is very easily irritated. Children size spray nozzles and gentle pressure can alleviate this problem. Ocean for KIDS Saline nasal spray has both.” He comments that “Ocean for KIDS^® Saline Nasal Spray provides extra moisture for delicate nostrils to help prevent irritation. Because it is saline, it can be used frequently throughout the day to help thin mucus, wash out allergens and deliver moisturizing relief.”

“Whether it’s the tail end of the cold and flu season or the beginning of allergy season, it’s important to know how to safely provide relief for your child,” he says. “When using a spray, be slow and gentle and tell your child what to expect it to feel like. And,” he winks, “a little bribe at the end never hurts.”

# # #

Ocean for KIDS® Saline Nasal Spray is available at CVS Pharmacy stores nationwide and retails for $4.99. Visit www.oceannasalcare.com for more great tips and helpful information.  Ocean^® Nasal Care is also on Facebook and Twitter!

The OCEAN^® Nasal Care family of products offers a non-medicated option for allergies that can be used as often as needed, is safe for all ages, and may be used in conjunction with other medications. OCEAN^® Saline Nasal Spray has been the non-medicated saline nasal brand recommended most by doctors for more than 30 years.OCEAN Complete^® Sinus Rinse (for nasal sinus irrigation and nasal moisturizing), OCEAN for Kids^® Saline Nasal Spray (specially formulated for infants and children) andOCEAN Gel^® Nasal Moisturizer are also available.

I hate carrying around the bucket of different cleaners and wandering around with it all. I love the new product P & G has come up with! I really love the ease of use and that each has it’s own sprayer so you never mix cleaners and the concentrate last so long!

My favorite tips for cleaning;

1.clean top to bottom

- remember to dust higher up first and vacuum last to get all that falling dust!

2. Start cleaners in bathroom and then come back to it. Let the cleaners do the work for you!

3. User a timer and clean in 15 minute increments. Give yourself a 5 minute break in  between.

4. Start laundry first and check it later during your breaks.

“The SC Johnson Smart Twist™ Cleaning System is a breakthrough, innovative tool that lets you have three cleaners in one hand. Twist, spray and wipe to clean your entire house with one system:
• No more lugging a bucket full of cleaners around the house
• No more searching for the right cleaner
• Saves space under the counter”

There are a few different varieties as well.

The Smart Twist™ Cleaning System is available in the following varieties at the Smart Twist™ website.
• Kitchen/Bath System
o Includes Windex®, Scrubbing Bubbles® and fantastik® concentrated cleaner cartridges and a sprayer for $24.99
• Living Spaces System
o Includes Windex®, Pledge® and Shout® concentrated cleaner cartridges and a sprayer for $24.99
• Cover Every Base System
o Includes two Windex® Glass Cleaner concentrated cleaner cartridges, and one each of Scrubbing Bubbles® Bathroom Cleaner, fantastik® Kitchen Cleaner, Pledge® Furniture Cleaner and Shout® Carpet Cleaner concentrated cleaner cartridges and a sprayer for $34.99
• Total Easy Clean System
o Includes two Windex® Glass Cleaner concentrated cleaner cartridges and one each of Scrubbing Bubbles® Bathroom Cleaner, fantastik® Kitchen Cleaner, Pledge® Furniture Cleaner and Shout® Carpet Cleaner concentrated cleaner cartridges and two sprayers for $45.99

Replacement concentrate cartridges are also available for $7.99 for two or $11.99 for three cleaners of your choice.

The SC Johnson Smart Twist™ Cleaning System offers the company’s most trusted brands in one, easy-to-use and space-saving system: Windex® Glass Cleaner, Scrubbing Bubbles® Bathroom Cleaner, fantastik® Kitchen Cleaner, Pledge® Furniture and Specialty Surfaces Cleaner, and Shout® Carpet Cleaner.

To use the Smart Twist™ Cleaning System simply fill the tank with water, and then snap the concentrated cleaner cartridges into the Smart Twist™ Cleaning System. Twist the carousel until the cleaner you want clicks into the front position. For best results, pull the trigger back quickly and fully. Spray and wipe surface to clean. If cleaning a small surface, spray the cleaner onto a cleaning cloth.

The great thing about the Smart Twist™ Cleaning System is its ease of use. Smart Twist™ brings added convenience by automatically adding the right amount of water, giving you one less thing to worry about.

So this is worth the try!! and now you can get free shipping!!

SC Johnson is offering free shipping on all Smart Twist™ Cleaning System orders and any purchases $24.99 and above. This offer is valid at the Smart Twist™ website.

Thanks to SC Johnson for sponsoring today’s discussion

Whatever it is you’d like to sell, here’s a list of new tech services that make it truly easy to spring clean while turning that clutter into cash. Best part? You don’t have to wait for someone else to buy your stuff like you do on Craigslist or eBay. Just pack up those unwanted goods, ship ‘em off, and watch the cash roll in!

·  thredUP.com: online consignment to clean out children’s closets and turn outgrown clothes into cash. Order a thredUP bag, fill it with kids’ clothes and earn up to 40% of the resale value. thredUP consignors inspect every item and resell only the best clothes. http://www.thredup.com

·  EcoATM: an automated, self-serve kiosk that quickly evaluates and buys back used consumer electronics directly from consumers for cash. It’s like a magical money robot. Find an EcoATM location near you. http://www.ecoatm.com

·  Chairish.com: sell your home furnishing directly to Chairish. Users simply submit furniture details online, and Chairish takes care of payments while insuring white glove shipping. Chairish’s curation team approves every listing to ensure the best furniture quality for buyers. http://www.chairish.com

·  GoldFellow.com: we’ve all heard of Cash for Gold, but there’s another option for your once loved jewelry. Gold fellow will even take broken jewelry! http://www.goldfellow.com/

·  BookScouter.com: type in the ISBN and Book Scouter will search all the sites that are currently paying for used books to give you a quote. It’s like having a book broker! http://bookscouter.com/

·  GiftCardGranny.com: gift card exchange that helps you trade in gift cards you aren’t planning on using, for cards you will use – or for cash. http://www.giftcardgranny.com/

·  UsedInstrumentBuyer.com: instruments are often pricey to ship, and you probably won’t make much selling them on craigslist. UsedInstrumentBuyer gives you a quote upfront and ship it for free. http://usedinstrumentbuyer.com/

·  TheRealReal.com: luxury designer resale – all online. Perfect for the Louis Vuitton bag that needs a new home. http://www.therealreal.com/Events.aspx

·  TaskRabbit.com: want someone to do your spring cleaning for you? TaskRabbit helps you find local people to run your errands– like help you sell heavier stuff such as kitchen appliances or home fitness equipment in the garage on Craigslist. https://www.taskrabbit.com/

·  Secondipity.com: a selling portal perfect for bigger ticket items like TVs. Best part? With every item you sell, they’ll make a donation to a classroom in need. http://www.secondipity.com/

Happy Cashing in!!

After a flurry of holiday hoopla and getting settled into the new year, it’s time to get back to the routine. The
kids are off to school, the entertaining is over and your shelves are empty. Let Box Tops for Education® help you
out with its pantry stock up!

Box Tops for Education has helped America’s schools earn over $475 million since 1996. You can earn cash for your child’s school by clipping Box Tops coupons from hundreds of participating products. Box Tops also offers easy ways to earn even more cash for your school online.

I love this concept and many schools participate in Box Tops for Education. Many schools have collection boxes in their office or classrooms for each class. It couldn’t be any easier. The Box tops help schools earn money towards textbooks, technology, playgrounds, field trips and much more. I just started the program for my school for next year, it is such a great help to the community and schools. Especially in a budget freeze like many schools in San Diego county, mine included. They also have over 240 participating Brands like cheerios, Kleenex, Pillsbury, and more.

In celebration of reaching more than $500 million to schools since the program started in 1996, Box Tops for
Education®  one lucky reader a chance to share in the news while stocking their shelves with some of the most trusted household brands.

Stock Your Pantry with:

Filled with delicious and nutritious snacks and meal solutions, home organizing and cleaning products and cost-
cutting coupons, the Pantry Stock Up gift pack includes:
? New Peanut Butter Toast Crunch® cereal
? Nature Valley® Chewy Trail Mix Dark Chocolate Cherry and Protein Salted Caramel
? Fiber One® Protein Bars
? Progresso® Recipe Starters
? Food Should Taste Good® Chips
? Green Giant Fresh® Box Tops for Education pencil pouch
? Hamburger Helper® Sweet & Sour Chicken and Parmesan Crusted Chicken
? Betty Crocker® Mac & Cheese and Au Gratin potatoes
? Kleenex® wallet pack and 184 count box
? Scott® toilet paper (4 roll) and paper towel roll
? Avery® dry erase weekly calendar
? Ziploc® bowls and bags
? Yoplait® Frozen Yogurt free product coupon

To learn more about Box Tops for Education and the $500 million milestone to share with your readers, please
see the news release below.

How can you win?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  I was provided with a prize pack pictured above as a thank you for facilitating this post and one to give away to a reader.  All opinions are my own.

I was asked to review L’oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB cream. I have to say I really like it. It was made as a blemish balm which is why it is called a BB cream. It works great for because I have oily skin.

About L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream: This product gives the sheer coverage needed to create a natural bare skin finish, while delivering built-in skincare benefits. With four beautifying actions, this all-in-one innovation primes and smoothes, perfects to hide flaws, hydrates all-day, and corrects and evens skin. The product is infused with skincare ingredients like Panthenol, Vitamin E and Glycerin for 24-hour moisturization.

To apply, simply dot on and blend with fingertips. Self-adjusting beads will instantly transform and blend to your skin tone.

L’Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream retails for $10.95 for 1 fl oz. It is available in four shades and is sold at mass food and drug retailers nationwide. Click here to find out more.

disclosure: I was given the cream to review. I was knot paid for my opinions.